Whether you use startrescue.co.uk to find car, motorbike or van breakdown cover, there’s one aspect of driving that unites all vehicle owners – and that’s having to deal with winter driving conditions.

The fitting of winter tyres is one very effective way of making driving in wintry conditions easier – and above all safer. Up until 2009, UK motorists only had a vague notion of what winter tyres actually were, but since we’ve experienced some rather harsh winters in recent times, UK drivers have come round to the idea that winter tyres are a very valuable asset to have on a car.

Crucially, they can reduce your stopping distance by a significant amount; summer tyres (or standard tyres to most drivers’ minds) simply don’t offer the same grip.

True, winter tyres can cost quite a bit more than normal tyres – up to 25 percent by some estimates, but they offer real peace of mind that if you have to stop quickly in an emergency, they can give you a much needed reduction in stopping distance.

Last year, demand outstripped supply by a good deal, and many manufacturers say they may not be able to provide for a similar peak in demand this year. Ideally, ordering your winter tyres in autumn is the most effective way of ensuring you’re ready for wet, icy or snowy conditions. And since the winters appear to be getting worse by the year, doing so seems prudent.